1987/2004
Over the 18 years since its inception, the Rifa Education Programme has hosted about 20 000 people. These range from 600 participants in 1987 and in 1988 to a high in 1996 of 1 400 with a peak in 2004 of 1 500.

The camp holds 38 people boarding for a week and a maximum of 36 camps are held per year giving a maximum of about 1 374 participants per year. This limits the numbers of people per year. Most of December through to about mid?March is unsuitable for schools and colleges as it is very hot, often wet with malarial levels high.

Types of Programmes run for different groups during years 1994/2004

Primary school +/_ nearly half the camps non
Secondary (mainly advanced level) +/? nearly half the camps

Teachers Colleges 1 per year
Birdlife Zimbabwe I per year
Adult training BLZ Once every four years
Zim. Prof Hunters & Guides Ass. I per year
Astronomy & Eclipse I every two years
Archaeology Interest Occasional
Teacher's groups Occasional
Art Group Occasional
Junior Hunting group Occasional
Special classes Occasional

When the programme first started more boys attended than girls. From 1990 onwards as many girls participated on average as boys. Among the adult Professional Hunters and Guides training camp, more males participated than females.

Number of urban and rural schools participating 2000/2004

It can be seen that there is almost equal participation from urban and rural areas.

Financial support for schools and colleges and funding

All schools and colleges have to date paid a low subsidised rent for the camp and its many facilities. This was part of Zimbabwe Hunters' Associations contribution to environmental education. Advantaged schools have been able to pay fully for the required rent, food and transport for the group. Other schools have been partially sponsored while others have been fully sponsored by a donor.

Sponsorship finance has been sourced from overseas organisations such as Curriculum Safari Earth and one of the Chapters of the Audubon Naturalist Society and certain individuals, Locally donations have been recently received from individuals from companies, NGO's and schools themselves.

In 2004 the following schools were fully sponsored:

Chengu
Highfeld Secondary
Rutendo Primary
Hesketh Park
Karl Pisec with Makute
Belvedere Technical Teachers' College
Moleli High, partially sponsored

Thus, about 25% of all schools were assisted in attending a camp.

The situation in 2005 will be different. The rent for a camp has risen appreciable to enable the facility to be run on a cost recovery basis. It may mean more schools will apply for some financial support.

Fund raising will have to be stepped up for camp management and maintenance. Schools will be encouraged to fund raise for themselves. It is still to be hoped 25% of schools will be assisted to attend Rifa camps from overseas and domestic sponsorship.

The programme

Much has been written on Rifa resources to support the education and awareness programmes. Booklet and project sheets have been produced on The Bream Pools, on the Zambezi Basin, trees and transects and rifting. Most of them have been developed by Leslee Maasdorp. The following is a list of publications

Reports prepared for Zimbabwe Hunters' Association for use in the Education Programme

Coates Palgrave M. ( I 995) A key to the trees of Rifa

Catrin and Cotton A. and Maasdorp L. (2002) Annotated notes on the birds of Chirundu from 1986?2002 (90 pages)

Love D. (199 ) The Geology of the country around Chirundu Ilurungwe District (28 pages)

Kelly C. (1996) Rifa Herpetological Project (72 pages) Maasdorp L. (1996) Termites at Rifa

Maasdorp L. ( I 998) The Impala of Rifa (40 pages)

Swan L. (2002) Archaeology around Rifa Education Camp, Chinrndu (7 pages) Maasdarp L. (1999) How long does an elephant live (unpublished)

Read more about RIFA:
Rifa - A Unique Zimbabwe Wildlife Education Experience
By Leslee Maasdorp

Visit www.zimconservation.com